[Assessment of the Possibility of Comparing Mortality Rates from Diseases of the Circulatory System in the United States and Russia].

OBJECTIVE

to compare and discuss causes of differences between standardized mortality rates (SMR) from diseases of the circulatory system (DCS) among men and women older than 50 years in Russia and USA.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data on mortality rate in the USA were taken from WHO mortality database (WHO MD), those on the USA population by 5-years age bands from Human Mortality Database (HMD). Information on mortality rates in Russia was obtained from Rosstat. In analysis we used age-adjusted death rates and SMR for DCS or ages more or equal 50 years. For standardization of mortality rates we used data of the European Standard Population 2013.

RESULTS

By 23 3-digit codes mortality rates among men in USA were higher than in Russia (in the structure of mortality among women there were 28 such codes). Portion of such deaths in Russia in total number of DCS deaths was 6.5% both for men and women, while figures for USA were 36.8 and 40%, respectively. About 99% of differences in SMR from DCS between countries were determined by 8 and 6 groups of causes in men and women, respectively. Analysis of 4-digit ICD codes showed that almost 40% of DSC class deaths both in Russia and USA had the forth digit of ICD-10 code 8 or 9 and were accompanied by wording "other" or "unspecified" or formulation of diseases which were not used in clinical practice and were absent in both guidelines issued by Russian or American professional societies. Despite existence of ICD rules the conducted analysis allows to state that those rules could be interpreted differently in various countries. This resulted in obtaining noncomparable data.

CONCLUSION

Comparison of mortality rates in USA and Russia based on existing ICD coding rules cannot be correctly performed. Therefore, this comparison does not allow to assess contribution of financing and organization of medical service in differences in mortality rates between two countries.